The seventh edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a special edition that is dedicated to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to celebrate his birth centenary, will see a new champions when Rajshahi Royals and Khulna Tigers would clash for the coveted trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city today (Friday), reports BSS.
The match will start at 7.00pm.
In its previous six editions, Dhaka franchisees lifted the trophy for highest three times-twice in the name Dhaka Gladiators and once as Dhaka Dynamites. Cumilla Victorians, the reigning champions, won the title twice while Rangpur Riders won it once.
This edition, however, got two new teams who never won the trophy though Rajshahi in the name of Rajshahi Kings played the final in 2016-2017 season.
Unarguably these two teams--Rajshahi Royals and Khulna Tigers-- were the most consistent teams in the group phase as both of them won eight matches out of 12. Khulna however edged Rajshahi by net-run-rate to top the table.
In the group phase, they faced off each other twice-Khulna won the first leg match by five wickets while Rajshahi took the revenge, beating them by seven wickets in the second leg.
It's the first time that Mushfiqur Rahim, the longest serving captain of Bangladesh, is playing his first BPL final.
Mushfiqur so far remains the highest scorer in this tournament with 470 runs from 13 matches, striking four half-centuries, two of those were 90 plus knocks. His teammate Rilee Rossouw scored 458 runs to sit behind him.
With opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto enjoying a superb form in the last two matches, hitting two unbeaten 115 and 78 runs knock, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz thriving in opening position intriguingly well, Khulna's top order looked rock solid.
They have the bowling firepower in Mohammad Amir who in first Qualifier against Rajshahi recorded best (6-17) BPL bowling figures. Alongside him there is Robbie Frylinck and others.
But Rajshahi also has the resources in their batting and bowling line up. Their captain Andre Russell has the reputation of snatching the victory.
Shoaib Malik is the third highest run-getter with 446 runs while they have the bowlers like Mohammad Irfan. Russell and Malik too are handy with bowling.
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